JD - Do you know what the length (eye to eye) and travel is for the R1 shock? I searched the thread but couldn't find it. Also I know you changed to a 900 lb/in spring but do you know what the OEM rate is?

JD - Do you know what the length (eye to eye) and travel is for the R1 shock? I searched the thread but couldn't find it. Also I know you changed to a 900 lb/in spring but do you know what the OEM rate is?

Thanks.

the R1 is just slightly longer, maybe 10mm, with about a 7mm longer stroke which yields about 6.5" of travel...except it's not usable since the tire will contact the fender liner first. the tire will hit the liner with the OEM shock too if the shock is bottomed.

the OEM Versys spring is 16kg/mm or 895#. i replaced it with the 900# custom spring, or 16.1kg/mm.

i think guys swapping in the R1 tend to use a spring that's a little too light for gravel road use, or any other condition where there might be a load on the bike.

the thing looks like a pile of goop, but it's the mold for the fiberglass rear fender. did i mention that i hate working with this stuff, but fortunately it doesn't take all that long. it takes longer to figure out what the shape should be than it does to mold the part.

while the resin was setting, i made up the plate mount. left a little room for a LED plate light.

painted a bunch of parts, always a challenge spraying urethane in a cold shop, and started reassembling the tail. i wanted more light on the bike after numerous long runs in the dark this season, surrounded by cager madness.

the first new lights were LEDs flanking each side of the plate that get tied into the brake light circuit.

the lights are tucked in tight, but visible from the rear and side, and have a wrap around gravel guard for bottom and front protection.

there's also a new LED strip light above the plate, way brighter than the OEM light.

the next set of new anti-cager lights are 2" LEDs mounted in behind the Wolfman racks, and between the two will show plenty of red on the back of the bike. these are tied in on the running light circuit.

new 2" amber LEDs mounted behind the Motech guards, out of harms way, also on a running light circuit. i think i'll put the ADVmonster LEDs back on too, help those cagers see me. it may seem extreme to add all these lights, but over this past season of travel, i've had more close calls than i could begin to count.